My Lungs Still Work

Sometimes it seems as though I need to let out a yell just to know that I'm still in fact alive. I still breathe in and out in perfect succession. Blood still takes all the necessities of life through my body--from the heels of each foot to the very follicles that produce the hairs on my head (no blood flows through my hair just in case you were wondering--if it does for you, go to a hospital). It is in the moments of tension and hostility that a different sort of life emerges. Not that I look forward to these episodes of sharpened eyes and tongues, flushed cheeks and tightened fists. In fact, I dread them. However, reality is almost more than real when someone I love dearly draws such emotion from me that I raise my voice to a height that tells me I care. In that, I know I'm still alive.

Amplified Sorrow

Today I had two sorrowful conversations. One involved the temporary loss of communication with a person I care for beyond words. No more details are needed for that matter. The second conversation followed soon after and involved the death of a dear friend and brother:
My Indian brother who traveled with me all over India this summer is now standing before Christ singing His praises. Sunday night he died in the hospital after suffering from pneumonia and possibly tuberculosis. While we can fairly reasonably treat both conditions in the States (though even our doctors may be troubled by the two combined), India's medical facilities (especially those for the poor) are much more hindered. Please, if you read this, be in prayer for his family. He was the sole provider for his mother and two little brothers. The father of this family died about 5 years ago. Also, his family has accumulated debt to pay a dowry for his sister to be married (yes, dowry...don't get me started on that). Now the trauma of losing the eldest son brings a new world of difficulty. My prayer is for healing and comfort for his family who remains; strengthening of the believers, especially young believers who may be scared of what death means to believers; and doors to share the Gospel as a result of Santosh's death.
This will be an extremely difficult time for everyone as this is the first death of a believer in this community of believers. Many will have questions and concerns.

Something to write about...

Apparently November 1st is the signal to the American media that it is time to start the Christmas celebration. No one seems to notice that a quick glance at any Gregorian calendar with American holidays will show that there is one other nationally recognized holiday that falls somewhere between Halloween and Christmas namely, Thanksgiving. I personally love Thanksgiving and enjoy celebrating it every year with my family--not to mention the fact that it gives one last break before exams. So, here's to taking each holiday in step and not buying Christmas lights before I pick out a Halloween costume (this is of course a theoretical statement, as Halloween has already passed).